Method of and apparatus for digging up ground from below the surface



Feb.'12,19z9. A 1,701,678

` M. JAEGER lrammen oF Aun APPARATUS FOR DIGGING UP GROUND FROM BELOWTHE SURFACE Filed April 26, 1328 1 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 12, 1929.1,701,678

M. .JAEGER 1 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DIGGING UP GROUND FROM BELOWTHE SURFACE Filed April 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig@ ATTORNEY'Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES y 1,701,678 PATENT OFFICE; l

MAX JAEGER, or WRSSRLRUREN, GERMANY, essrenon To nnnwre oLGA susurraKRGER. A

METHOD or AND nrrARArUs FOR DIGGING Ur GROUND FROM :mrowy THE SURFACE.

Application filed April 26, 1928, Serial No. 273,123, and in GermanyNovember 22, 192,7.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for digging `sub-soilor ground from below the surface without removing the surface layer ortop soil. f Y

lt is an object of my invention to save labour for digging andconveying, and to this cud l provide a conveyor preferably of tubularform and means therein for raising the layer to be dug up and fordischarging it through the tube. l

ln a preferred embodiment of my inven tion l provide a truc-k or othervehicle on which the conveyer is supported and whichy may be'adapted tobe moved along the ground lille a plow by a tractor or by powerderivedfrom its own prime mover. i

My invention is applicable with particular advantage to the digging upof a sub-stratum of sand, or other earth, containing a large percentageof lime, such as are found in alluvial ground. Such sand or earth whenraised to the surface may serve a fertilizer, being spread on the groundin situ.

The conveyer may be providedwith a cut-v ter in order to enable it tobreak the soil after the manner ofa plough. in very soft ground and inmoors with a comparatively thin solidsurface layer the cutter can bedispensed with. ln harder ground and more particularlv 1n marshes towhich my inventmn is applicable with particular advantage, a cutterresembling a plough share which is secured to or moved in advance of theconveyor or a rotary conveyer tube equippedy with cutting blaues may beprovided. Y

Vl am aware that it has already been suggested to use tubes enclosinghelical conmymeans, but such conveyors have only been used for conveyingmaterial above `groun l.

lilith the foregoing and other equally impertantobjects and advantagesin view, the invention resides inthe certain new and usefulcombinations., constructions and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying 1,'but shows a modified form of the soilworking implement or device as it appears when operatively mouned on avehicle,

Figure 5 un enlarged fragmentary sectional. detail of a. n'iodiied formof the implement or device per se,

ldligure (i is a sectional view take-u on the line (i-fG of Figure 5,and

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing a furthermodified form of the implement or device per se.

Referring to the dra-wings, wherein like characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, andmore particularly to Figures 1, Zand 3, the embodiment of theinvention.y as shown therein by way of example, comprises a truck orotherr vehicle 10, on which is mounted a combined trenching and sub-soilimplement or device il, the latter being supported on the vehicle insuch amanner that its inclination to the horizontal can be varied atwillby7` the operator. The implement or device llis preferably in theformjof elongatedjtubu* lar bod'v having an enlarged excavatingportionor head 12 at'its' lower end. A conveycr helix or worm i3 is housedwithin the body or tube ll to elevate the excavated sub-soil from thehead 12 upwardlythrough the body or tube, and functionsto discharge thesoil outwardly of the opening or openings 14 foin ied in the upper endportion of the latter for the prupose. 'y y A. cutter l5somewhat'resembling a plough share, is preferably secured in position atthe lezuliiig side of the body or tube il to tri-v ch vthestratum orstrata. of soil above the stratum ofsubesoil to be excavated andconveyed same and for operatingthe working parts ofthe* implement 11, orit may have separa-te power plants (not shown) for operating'the vehicleand the implement, one independently of the other, as may be necessaryor desired. T he gear 17 is keyed or otherwise secured to the upper endportion of the shaft 16, and the gear 18 to a countershaft or the like19, which is journaled transversely of the chassis of the vehicle 10,and the power is preferably applied to the latter shaft through areducing gearing 19, substantially as shown. A series of radiallydisposed cutters 20 are arranged within the lower open end of the eX-cavator member or head 12 to effect a thorough dislodgment and breakingup of the stratum of sub-soil to be removed and elevated for dischargeonto the ground surface.

As a means for supporting the implement in position on the vehicle body,the tubular body 11, above the gear 17, will. be engaged through abearing collar 21, which will have bossed sockets projecting from itsopposite sides for engagement on the transversely alined trunnions 22,one of the trunnions being constituted, preferably in the adjacent endof the countershaft 19, so that the veritcal swinging adjust-ment of theimplement will have the latter as its center, and the gear 17 willremain in mesh with the gear 18 at all times. The adjustment of theinclination of the implement 11 with respect to the horizontal may beaccomplished in any suitable manner, or through the medium of an adjust-Y ing screw 23, which is pivoted at its lower end, as at 24, to adesired point on the chassis of the vehicle 10, and which is engagedthrough a swivel or the like mounted at one side of the upper endportion of the tubular body 11. A hand wheel or the like 26 is securedon the upper end of the adjusting screw 23 to facilitate the operationthereof. A counterbalance device or weight 27 is preferably attached totne extreme upper end of the tubular body 11, in any suitable manner toaid in 'the proper adjustn'ient of the iup plement.

ln the operation of this form of the machine, as the vehicle ispropelled along the groundand at the same time the shaft 16, the helixor worm 18 and the cutter head 12 are rotated, the ground from the layeror stratum to which the cutter head 12 has been lowered, is dug up,raised and dropped through the opening or openings 14, while the upperlayer or stratum is broken up by the stationary cutter 15, and is passedrearwardly of the same and deposited back into the trench, thus openedup by the implement in its entirety, and in a manner that the lowerstratum of earth or sub-soil is discharged on top of the same.

Referring now to Figs. 4. to (i, inclusive, the vehicle 10, thereduction gear 19 and the implement 11 are generally designed asdescribed with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but the tubular body ofthe implement 11 is here arranged for rotation about its axis and isprovided with cutting blades 28 as shown.

In this instance of the invention, the bottom end of thetubular body 11is also of greater diameter than its top end and this enlarged portionforms the excavator head of the iinpleinent. The worm 13 extendsthroughout the tubular body below the discharge outlet 14 and rotatestherein to convey the loosened soil to the surface of the ground. Thisenlarged portion or head 12 is preferably provided with a plurality oflongitudinally extending slots 29 for the passage inwardly thereof ofthe ground which is dug up by the blades 28 upon rotation of the body11, the ground being engaged by the helix or worm 18, raised anddischarged at the opening or openings g, as will appear from Fig. 6. Theedges of the blades 28 project some distance beyond the trailing edgesof the slots 29, which edges are preferably bent tangentially at 4thesepoints in order to facilitate the securing of the blades 28 and also theproper cutting operation of the same. o f

En order to prevent clogging of the tubular body 11 by the ground whichis raised by the enlarged bottom end of the worm, the worm in thesmaller portion of the body preferably has a larger pitch than the lower'end portion thereof.

Obviously cutter blades may be provided throughout the active workinglengt-h of the tubular body 11, that is in the smaller portion as wellas in the larger portion of the tubular body 11, and such arrangement ispreferably provided for use in very hard ground to facilitate theforward mov ment of the machine.

Referring now to Figure 7, which shows a further modified form of thesoil working implement or device 11, a helical cutting element 30 may beencircled about the tubular body of the implement and extended upwardlyfrom the adjacent inner or upper end of the excavator head 12. Also,this helical cutting 'element 30 may have upstanding angular portions 31formed at intervals along the outer edge of the same as a further aid incutting through hard ground, and to cause the detached soil to bepassedy rearwardly from the implement or device.

l wish it to be understood that I do not-desire to be limited to theexact details of Construction Vshown and described for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim zl f 1. A machine for digging up ground from below its surfacecomprising` a conveyor tube, n a cutter arranged adjacent the end of theconveyor tube and adapted to loosen the soil at a. point spaced from thesurface of the ground, means in said tube for conveying the loosenedsoil to the surface of the ground, and cutting means arranged on theconveyor tube and adapted to move tbe soil from in front of the tube tothe rear thereof without materially displacing it longitudinally of thetube.

j 2. A machine for digging up soil from below its surface comprising arotating conveyor tube, a conveyor arranged within said tube, cuttersarranged about lthe lower periphery of the tube, said tube havingopenings therein arranged adjacent the ,cutters whereby rotation or thetube moves the cutters to loosen the soil, which loosened soil passesthrough the openings in the rotating tube and is delivered to theconveyor within the tube.

3. A machine for digging up ground from below its surface comprising arotating conveyor tube, a conveyor in said tube, said tube having aseries of openings in its periphery adjacent the lower end thereof, andcutters arranged tangentially of the tube adjacent the openings in thelower end thereof, whereby rotation of the conveyor tube moves thecutters attached thereto to loosen the soil, the loosened soil passingthrough the openings in the tube to the conveyor within the tube.

d. A machine for digging up ground from below its surface comprising arotating con- `veyor tube, said. tube having an enlarged lower end, aconveyor screw arranged in said tube, said conveyor screw having anenlarged lower end conforming to the shape of the enlarged lower end ofthe tube, the enlarged lower end ofthe conveyor screw having less pitchthan the body of the screw, and cutters arranged on the periphery of theenlarged portion of the tube and extending beyond the periphery of thetube, said tube being provided with openings arranged ad jacent thecutter whereby the rotation of the tube and associated cutters willloosen the soil, said loosened soil passing through the openings to theconveyor within the tube.

5. A machine for digging up ground fromV below its surface comprising arotating conveyor tube, a cutter element secured to the end oftheconveyortube and communicating u .th the interior of the conveyortube, said ci. JAting` member being` adapted to loosen soil a pointspaced from the surface of the ground. a conveyor within said tube andadapted to-convey the loosened soil to the surface of the ground, and acutting elementarranged on the outer periphery of the tube and extendingfrom a point adjacent the l first mentioned cutting` member to theysurface of the ground, said cutting eleinentrotating with theL tube tomove the soil from in front of the tube to the rear thereof withoutmaterially displacing it longitudinally of the conveyor tulie. .i

G. A machine for digging up ground from below its surface comprising arotating conifeyor tube, a cutter secured to thel end of the tube andcommunicating with the Yinterior l thereof, said cutter being adapted toloosen soil ata point spaced from the surface of the ground, a. conveyorwithin said tube adapted `loosen soil ahead of said conveyor tube Aandmove it to the rear of said tube without materially displacing itlongitudinally of the tube.

7, A machine for digging up ground from below its surface comprising arotating cony vcyor tube having an enlarged lower end, a conveyor screwinsaid tube, cutters arranged on the periphery of the enlarged cud ofthe tube and extending bevond the periphery of the tube, said tube bei eprovided with openi in gs arranged adjacent the cutters, and a helicalcutting clement encircling the conveyor tube and extending fro-in theenlarged lower end of the tube to the surface of the ground, wherebyupon rotation of the conveyor tube the lower strata of soil are loosenedby the iirst mentioned cutters and pass through the openings in theenlarged portion of the tube to the conveyor. and whereby the helicalcutter rotating with the conveyor tube loosens theupper strata of soilin front of the tube and moves them to the rear thereof withoutmaterially displacing them longitudinally of the tube.

8. A machine for digging up ground from below its surface comprising arotating conveyor tube, a cutter secured to the end of the tubeandcommunicating with the interior thereof, said cutter being adapted toloosen soil at a point spaced from the surface of the ground, a conveyorwithin said tube adapted to convey the loosened soil to the surface ofthe ground, and a helical cutting element encircling said tube andextending from a point adjacent the first mentioned cutter to thesurface of the ground, said helical cutting element being iiuierruptedby spaced openings and rotating with the conveyor tube to loosen soilabad of said conveyor tube and move it to the rear of said tube withoutmaterially displacing it longitudinally of the tube,I

9. The method of removing ground from below its surface comprisingmoving a tube through the ground, loosening thesoil adjacent the lowerend of the tube andpassing it through the tube to the surface of theground, and moving the soil from iminedi ately in frontof the tubethrough a substantially horizontal plane to a point behind the tube toallow the tube to move through the ground without disturbing therelative positions of the strata of soil above the stratum to beremoved. f Y

in testimony whereof l afiix my signature.

MAX JAEGER.

llOk

